Latest News from Hospitality Industry – W4, March 2022

Here is your weekly industry news round-up. Check out the short snippets here and follow below for more details.

Good news – US booking sites seeing strong demand for 2022 travel. The rush to book summer vacation homes has further accelerated in 2022.

With changing times, comes change in preferences and demand of travelers. Online reputation is one of the major factors that help provide constant revenue for a hotel. Know the key hacks on how to provide guests with the best possible experience.

As the hospitality and travel industry continues to recover, and with group and business sectors still trailing behind, predicting transient travel demand patterns becomes more critical than ever. Hoteliers are also rethinking their approaches toward the transient space.

As U.S. hotels continue to recover from the devastating effects of the pandemic, there is still widespread agreement that group demand will be the last segment to recover.

Hotels are now following Remarketing & Retargeting strategy. The best and most effective method for display advertising is to stay top of mind with consumers.  Learn how hotel PPC campaigns can help increase occupancy.

Reach out to us for your hotel channel manager, CRS, rate shopper, hotel booking engine, website development or digital marketing requirements. We are happy to have a discussion to see how we can help you achieve your property’s occupancy and revenue goals – contact us today.

Enjoy the read!

newshound- ratetiger-hospitality

OTAs seeing strong demand for 2022 travel

Booking sites are seeing higher demand for spring and summer leisure travel as Covid-19 restrictions ease. The rush to book summer vacation homes has further accelerated in 2022.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/consumer/us-booking-sites-seeing-strong-demand-for-2022-travel

Enhance Guest Experience in your Hotel

Guest experience is the key to more bookings & revenue. A happy guest is likely to spread happiness by sharing his satisfactory experience. Travelers trust reviews more than anything else while making a booking. Click below to know the hacks to enhance guest experience in your hotel – https://lnkd.in/dkiyG_ga

Spring break, Easter trends predictive of US travel demand

As the hospitality industry continues to recover, and the business sector still trailing behind, predicting transient travel demand patterns becomes more critical than ever.

https://www.costar.com/article/687827198/spring-break-easter-trends-predictive-of-us-travel-demand

Hybrid hotels, beyond recreating the comforts of home

As the traditional definitions associated with travel, work, and living continue to expand and overlap, hoteliers are also rethinking their approaches toward the transient space.

https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4109575.html

Hotels look to attract group demand back

Though rumors of group demand death have been wildly exaggerated, it will take time, effort, savvy operations and an “all hands-on deck” approach to drive full-service hotel recovery.

https://www.hotelmanagement.net/operate/hotels-look-attract-back-group-demand

Travelboom: Hotel remarketing & retargeting strategies

It’s likely every hotel marketer has heard the terms hotel remarketing and retargeting before. Know why hotels and resorts should be using their hotel PPC campaigns to increase occupancy.

https://www.travelboommarketing.com/blog/retargeting-remarketing-for-hotels/

 

 

 

3 Essential Tips to Choose the Right Hotel Booking System

As hotels pave their way to recovery, occupancy and profitability remain the priority. However, with guest behaviour and preferences going through a rapid shift, hotels need an efficient sales strategy to optimize revenue.

For years, hotels have been trying to increase direct sales. However, to boost direct bookings, hotels need to have a user-friendly website with a sound booking engine.

The first obstacle in the path though is how to find a good hotel booking system!

3 Essential Tips to Choose the Right Hotel Booking System

There are so many options out there and they have their own set of features. It makes picking one more challenging.

Direct sales strategy for room sales is one of the most preferred tactics in the hospitality industry. The goal of a direct sales strategy is to boost direct online bookings from as many guests as possible.

Direct bookings are a great option for hotel owners because these bookings generate the most revenue. There are no agents or other distribution partners that must be paid a percentage or commission. Every guest you host has booked directly online, so you can pocket all the profit.

However, for this strategy to work, it is important to have a user-friendly website that travelers can access. Users get driven away by a slow, confusing, or complicated website. Make sure your website is intuitive, mobile-friendly, and has clear action buttons such as ‘book now’ for potential guests to click.

If you are focused on direct bookings, your website must be a priority. Once you have your website running, you will need to invest in hospitality software that syncs your existing website and other channels. If you’re looking to buy a hotel booking system but are confused about which one to choose, follow these essential tips:

1) Focus on the user experience

Yes, you want to buy a hotel booking system that increases direct room booking from the brand website. But the solution can be much more than just that, with its unique features.  One reason guests prefer to book from OTAs is the user experience. A good booking engine would be intuitive, easy-to-use, responsive and mobile-first. Make sure the booking system have the capability to feature special deals & promo codes when guests book directly with you.

2) Ask the right questions

Before choosing any hotel booking system, there are several questions that must be asked and answered. Such insights are necessary to help you make a fitting decision.

Will the solution connect with your hotel PMS? Can it handle multiple currency? Is it easy to use? Can the content be shown in multiple languages? Can it be integrated with your hotel channel manager so that inventory is always up to date? Can you offer different discounts?

These are some of the several questions you should ask before choosing a hotel booking system.

3) Ensure you have ongoing support

This is one of those things many hotel owners overlook, only to regret later. Some of the hotel booking systems can be challenging to use and getting used to. The more features they have, the more confusing they can get. Also, some of their interfaces may not be too appealing.

So, it’s a good idea to ensure you always have support from experts. Meaning, make sure the hotel booking system you plan to go with has a backend support team that extends their support so you can optimally use the system.

Final Words

  • These are three essential tips you should consider while choosing the best hotel booking system.
  • So, take your time, think things through, consider all the factors, and then make the right decision.
  • Remember, the kind of hotel booking solution you use may define the growth of your business. So, be careful and very certain of your decision.

Hospitality Industry News on Hotel Distribution and Latest Technology – W2, August 2021

Great news folks! Initial demand building up for Business Travel even though there is a lot of concern around the rise in Covid cases in some geographies. eRevMax expands channel ecosystem and adds TUI, & StaySavvy and highlights Guestline as a PMS partner. Airbnb introduces flexible search to attract travelers, Booking.com introduces Inclusivity training program for accommodation providers to deliver more welcoming experiences to LGBTQ+ travelers.  Expedia revenue jumps in 2nd quarter driven by US hotel and vacation rental booking. And a sneak peek into the traveler mindset!

Enjoy the read!

Business travel resumes, hesitantly

Convention centers are reopening. Hotels and airlines report an uptick in bookings. But the rise in virus cases has tempered forecasts for a major recovery.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/09/business/business-travel-hotels-airlines.html

eRevMax expands Partner Ecosystem with – TUI Group, Guestline and StaySavvy

With the travel industry moving towards a steady recovery, the initial demand build-up is coming from domestic tourism. Are you connected to the right channels and keeping them automatically updated with rates and availability on a regular basis? Choose from our wide network of partners and expand your hotel’s online visibility. Our featured partners for this week are TUI, Guestline & StaySavvy – connect to them today – https://lnkd.in/gX38MZPm

Airbnb tries flexible search to attract travelers

Rather than view Airbnb stays with specific dates, users can search for places with the promise of “weekend getaways” and choose the timing after.

https://www.adweek.com/performance-marketing/uncertain-world-airbnb-flexible-search/

Booking.com offers inclusivity training to accommodation providers

Program supports accommodation providers to deliver more inclusive and welcoming experiences for LGBTQ+ travelers.

https://travolution.com/news/travel-sectors/travel-agents/booking-com-offers-inclusivity-training-to-accommodation-providers

Expedia Group Q2 earnings driven by U.S. hotel and vacation rental bookings

Expedia Group saw its revenue increase more than 270% in the second quarter of this compared to the same period last year, from $566 million to more than $2.1 billion.

https://www.phocuswire.com/expedia-group-earnings-q2-2021

Travelers’ current mindset is high-end, high-spend

Luxury travelers don’t always travel during a pandemic. But when they do, they want to go big.

https://www.travelweekly.com/Luxury-Travel/Insights/Trends-in-luxury-travel-include-bucket-list-trips-private-experiences

Reach out to RateTiger for your hotel channel manager, rate shopper, booking engine, website development or revenue management consultancy requirements. We are happy to have a discussion to see how we can help you achieve your property’s occupancy and revenue goals – contact us today

 

eRevMax expands Partner Ecosystem with – TUI Group, Guestline and StaySavvy

Highlights introduction of Room – Rate Management feature

eRevMax is glad to introduce a new Product Feature called Room and Rate Management API through which you can create, update and delete room types or rate plans in different OTAs directly from your RateTiger dashboard.

With travel recovery gaining pace, it is imperative that hotels have a clear understanding of market. After over a year of closures and restricted travel, every hotelier needs to implement sales strategies that work best for their target market as well as for their local destinations. Hence it is important for hotels to know which channels and partners can bring maximum exposure to their property. Here are some of our technology and channel partners leading in their specific markets. Get in touch if you wish to connect to any of our 450+ hospitality technology as well as distribution channel / OTA partners.

TUI Group

Our newest channel partner TUI is one of the world’s leading tourism group. Headquartered in Germany, the group consists of tour operators, 1,600 travel agencies and over 400 hotels which are in major holiday destinations. TUI Group offers integrated services and unmatched holiday experience from a single platform for its 28 million customers in 180 regions. Expand your hotel distribution with TUI to attract more bookings and market share.

Guestline

Rexlynx PMS by Guestline is our featured partner for this edition. It provides independent hotels and small groups with the tools and insights and automates routine tasks, liberating your staff to focus on the guest. Fully configurable and PCI compliant, Rezlynx PMS is a mobile-friendly cloud-hosted solution that supports hotels or groups of any size. You can create and manage bookings for multiple properties, easily develop rate plans and apply region specific accounting rules, among various other relevant features. Contact us today to know more.

StaySavvy

One of the first booking platforms to focus on eco-conscious travel, StaySavvy is a new addition to the eRevMax Channel Ecosystem. StaySavvy promotes sustainable travel by helping reduce carbon footprint and rewarding guests for travelling in an eco-friendly way. 2% of every booking is allocated directly to an environmental initiative, such as tree planting or wildlife conservation. It is a revolutionary new room booking platform, generating social impact with every booking. Enlist with this channel to grow your domestic bookings and promote sustainable travel.

Are you looking to manage any new channel from your RateTiger platform? CONTACT US – https://www.erevmax.com/erevmax-contact.html

Industry round-up on Hotel Distribution and Technology News – W1, August 2021

Bhagini Icon premier Hotel India shares a strong recommendation for RateTiger Hotel Channel Manager, including a video testimonial – check it out in the first news piece below. Further on, we see strong recovery and gains by Booking.com as travel demand boosts in US and Europe, similar US trend data by STR. Shiji launched a Hotel Tech Distribution chart simplifying the landscape to showcase how hotels and guests interact with various technology at different levels of the booking process.  And finally a story showcasing how guest are coming back to hotels after a year of high demand for BnBs and alternative accommodation options.

Enjoy the read!

Indian Business Hotel recommends RateTiger for channel management

Bhagini Icon Premier, an upscale property in India has strongly recommended RateTiger for its hotel channel management capabilities and integrated connectivity platform. With RateTiger Channel Manager the hotel is saving their time daily through automated updates. Check out this video where Ramamurthy, Operations Manager at Bhagini Icon Premier hotel elaborates about his usage of RateTiger and why he strongly recommends it – https://lnkd.in/gCjeb-BK

Booking Holdings revenue triples on travel demand boost from U.S., Europe

Pandemic fears are driving people away from crowded hotels to alternative accommodations, with nearly one-fourth of the listings on Booking.com were for such accommodations at the end of the quarter.

https://www.reuters.com/business/booking-revenue-triples-travel-demand-boost-us-europe-2021-08-04/

STR: U.S. room rates reach all-time high

Historically, the middle weeks of July are the country’s highest occupancy weeks each year, and 2021 has been no different even as demand slows week to week.

https://str.com/press-release/str-us-hotel-results-week-ending-24-july

Hospitality Technology Distribution Chart 2021

The Hotel Technology Distribution Chart serves as a tool to help visualize the current hotel and hospitality technology landscape, how the various providers fit in, and their relationships with the hotel, the guest, and each other. RateTiger, a pioneer in Hotel Price Intelligence and Hotel Channel Management space, has been featured in this chart given the impact it makes in the industry through innovation, helping hotels maximize revenue on a daily basis. See the best providers in Hotel Tech Distribution space through this chart.

https://insights.shijigroup.com/introducing-shijis-hospitality-technology-distribution-chart-2021/

More travelers are looking at hotels again

After a year when consumers shifted to alternative properties like Airbnb and Vrbo homes, there is now evidence that they are returning to some of their old ways, according to the latest Trivago data.

https://www.barrons.com/articles/trivago-hotels-airbnb-travel-trends-51627940725

 

Reach out to RateTiger for your hotel channel manager, rate shopper, booking engine, website development or revenue management consultancy requirements. We are happy to have a discussion to see how we can help you achieve your property’s occupancy and revenue goals – contact us today https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hotel Tech News – July 2021, Week 5

RateTiger Hotel Channel Manager integrates with Simplotel, Updates from Google Hotel Ads, Booking.com and Expedia as well as Europe hotel occupancy recovery

RateTiger and Simplotel host joint webinar to showcase how hotels can accelerate direct bookings through hotel e-commerce

The two hotel technology leaders will be hosting a joint webinar on 12th August 2021 at 12pm IST to showcase how hoteliers can drive direct bookings and expand their revenue goals. The discussion will cover modern techniques and distribution tips that hotels can utilize to grow direct website bookings.

Register Now – https://rb.gy/gjqpmk

New York City hotels on the rebound

Weekly demand for hotel rooms in New York City reached its highest level since the start of the pandemic, with over 481,000 room nights sold the week of July 12.

https://www.businesstravelerusa.com/business-traveler-usa-story/new-york-city-hotels-on-the-rebound/

“Check-in date” multiplier now available on Google Hotel Ads.

The new feature allows hotels to work with a more familiar format which OTAs also use: by check in date.

https://www.mirai.com/blog/the-much-anticipated-check-in-date-multiplier-now-available-on-google-hotel-ads/

STR: U.K. leading Europe in hotel occupancy recovery

Demand is almost exclusively leisure-driven as the U.K. has benefitted from a successful vaccination program, a phased reopening and improved travel sentiment overall.

https://str.com/press-release/str-uk-leading-europe-hotel-occupancy-recovery

Price no longer primary driver of travel decisions

New research from Expedia Group reveals shifting views on travel, including positive sentiment on vaccine passports, increased budgets, and an enduring demand for safety and financial security.

https://welcome.expediagroup.com/content/dam/marketing/welcome2eg/published-assets/whitepapers/traveler-value-index-report/EN_Traveler_Value_Index_2021.pdf

Booking.com wants to become the ultimate intersection between payments and travel

The company’s new fintech unit integrates with loads of alternative payment providers, making it easier for bookers to book, and taking pressure from hotels.

https://www.benzinga.com/fintech/21/07/22160664/booking-com-fintech-lead-unpacks-payments-pivot-vision-to-refine-travel-experience

Reach out to us for your connectivity needs to make the most of your online revenue- https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ

Thanks and have a good day!

The Week, That Was – July 2021 Week 2

In five minutes or less, keep track of the most important news of the week, curated just for you. We present to you hand – picked news on latest industry perspectives and some general updates. Read on

American Hotel Brand relies on RateTiger while on course to business recovery

US based hotel and real estate management company, Thy Collection, has improved revenue and occupancy for its properties leveraging eRevMax’s channel connectivity. Two of the properties under the Bel Air Hospitality brand are managing their online distribution with RateTiger and have benefitted with greater efficiency.

https://www.erevmax.com/ratetiger-news/ratetiger-news-archive/july2021-erevmax-american-hotel-brand-relies-ratetiger-course-business-recovery.html

CWT on how the travel sector has reinvented itself

From bubble resorts, to the rise of work-cations and a new breed of sustainably conscious consumers, the travel landscape is almost unrecognizable from that of previous years.

https://news.mycwt.com/blog_posts/3-trends-shaping-the-future-of-travel-102207

Corporate travel is starting to recover

Hotels, airlines and TMCs are all reporting that there has been an increase in corporate discussions over the past few weeks, as executives are back on track for months of virtual meetings and video conferencing.

https://afegames.com/corporate-travel-rebound-signals-first-signs-of-recovery-in-decimated-sector/

Hotel CEOs on new travel trends

How traveler behavior has changed, and how hotel brands are responding to those changes. The New York University School of Professional Studies Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality recently held a CEO think tank exploring how strong leaders adapt to change.

https://www.travelagentcentral.com/your-business/hotel-ceos-new-travel-trends

Green Pass” COVID travel app smoothing travel for Europeans

Europe has started cutting some of the red tape limiting international travel with its own version of a COVID-19 “passport.”

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/covid-vaccine-passport-travel-europe-green-pass-app/

The Hotel Demand Pulse June 2021

In both the U.S. and Europe, COVID-19 cases have dropped to levels not seen since March 2020. These drops have resulted in strong demand growth in both regions. APAC has seen dramatic drops in cases as well since last month, but demand has not yet reacted with significant growth.

https://koddi.com/the-hotel-demand-pulse-june-2021/

Reach out to us for your connectivity needs to make the most of your online revenue- https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ

Thanks and have a good day!

The Week, That Was – July 2021 Week 1

In five minutes or less, keep track of the most important news of the week, curated just for you. We present to you hand – picked news on latest industry perspectives and some general updates. Read on

RateTiger certified by Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) as a recommended distribution partner

Global Hotel Alliance (GHA), the world’s largest alliance of independent hotel brands, has certified RateTiger by eRevMax, as a preferred distribution provider for its member properties. eRevMax has recently completed seamless integration with GHA, which is the latest addition to the eRevMax Ecosystem that has over 450 integrations including leading hotel technology platforms, OTAs, PMS, CRS, GDS, wholesalers, booking engines & more.

https://www.erevmax.com/ratetiger-news/ratetiger-news-archive/july2021-erevmax-ratetiger-certified-global-hotel-alliance-distribution-partner.html

U.S. travel bookings hit a new high

As of May 2021, traffic sits at 302.5M, which is higher than pre-pandemic levels. And not only are people browsing travel sites, they are also converting into customers. Top five U.S. OTA/Metasearch sites show a 24.3% increase in average monthly traffic YoY

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/similarweb-digital-intelligence-report-from-travel-bookings-to-job-board-listings-signs-of-recovery-evident-across-the-board-301323121.html

Younger travelers more likely to choose all-inclusive packages

New research from Expedia Group reveals the influence of inclusion and diversity on booking decisions.

https://www.expediagroup.com/media/media-details/2021/Younger-travelers-are-more-likely-to-choose-accommodations-with-inclusive-policies/default.aspx

eRevMax Partner Ecosystem Highlights – Global Hotel Alliance, Trip.com

Online travel agents are increasingly important for a hotel’s distribution strategy to make their property visible among potential travelers. Not just the right OTA mix, but also the right promotions and deals targeted at different customer segments is very critical to convert lookers into bookers. Contact us today to expand your distribution connectivity today – marketing@erevmax.com

https://www.erevmax.com/blog/index.php/2021/07/erevmax-partner-ecosystem-highlights-global-hotel-alliance-trip-com/

Tripadvisor unveils new app

Refreshed mobile app debuts alongside new “Vacations Miss You” campaign, and provides more personalized inspiration for consumers already at their destination or planning ahead.

https://tripadvisor.mediaroom.com/2021-06-29-Tripadvisor-Unveils-New-App-as-Summer-Travel-Rebounds

Reach out to us for your connectivity needs to make the most of your online revenue- https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ

Thanks and have a good day!

 

The Week, That Was – June 2021 Week 4

In five minutes or less, keep track of the most important news of the week, curated just for you. We present to you hand – picked news on latest industry perspectives and some general updates. Read on

eRevMax report shows optimism and positive outlook within the European hospitality sector

European Hotels are excited about summer travel and are looking to drive business recovery. For the first time since Q1 2020 European hoteliers are showing a sense of optimism. eRevMax has been carrying out regular #surveys to monitor hotel sentiment and help shed light on how they are reacting to the new normal and the changing travel trends. Through this survey report, we present hotel business outlook, booking sources, distribution mix, travel recovery timelines among other parameters. Access the full report here – https://lnkd.in/g525Umf

Hotel marketing campaigns balance emotion and innovation

Messaging draws a deeper emotional bond to travel for viewers, while activations appear in the types of digital- and mobile-first environments that a wider range of people have adopted over the past 15 months.

https://www.marketingdive.com/news/hotel-brands-balance-emotional-appeals-marketing-innovation-as-travel-spig/602265/

Budget hotels set to benefit, according to GlobalData

The data and analytics company notes that, with less budget for travel but a strong desire to escape, many will turn to budget providers to satisfy their travel cravings.

https://www.globaldata.com/budget-hotels-set-benefit-increase-price-sensitive-travelers-says-globaldata/

Europe’s reopening: Where U.S. travel advisors are sending clients

Italy and Greece are currently the most sought-after destinations, with France following not far behind.

https://www.travelpulse.com/news/destinations/europes-reopening-heres-where-travel-advisors-are-sending-clients.html

Tripadvisor sharing activities travelers loved the most

Awards have been expanded across a dozen subcategories, reflecting activities that have been hot since the start of the pandemic. Whether travellers enjoy planning in advance, or waiting to see what’s nearby once they’re in-destination, Tripadvisor’s Things to Do Awards surface recommendations for all types of travellers, according to the best guides: other travellers who have been there and done that.

https://tripadvisor.mediaroom.com/press-releases?item=126568

Reach out to us for your connectivity needs to make the most of your online revenue- https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ

Thanks and have a good day!

 

Announcing our Preferred Connectivity Partner status with Expedia Group

RateTiger’s high-quality connection delivers business growth for hotels

RateTiger – eRevMax has been recognized as a 2021 Expedia Group Preferred Connectivity Partner. This recognition as a Preferred Connectivity Partner underscores RateTiger’s focus on building and maintaining a high-quality connection that empowers hotels to grow their businesses on the Expedia Group marketplace.

Preferred Connectivity Partners are high-value connectivity providers recognized for their advanced systems with a wide range of products and an excellent connection to Expedia Group. This designation is a result of RateTiger’s commitment to:

  • Enabling a wide range of tools and capabilities in the Expedia Group marketplace
  • Providing a quality Expedia Group connection with a reliable user experience
  • Ensuring a streamlined Expedia Group onboarding experience and high-quality support for properties
  • Maintaining a strong portfolio of high-performing properties on Expedia Group marketplace

We’re proud to provide a high-quality connection to our customers and empower them to perform their best on the Expedia Group marketplace.

eRevMax’s Channel Ecosystem (CES) offers two-way XML connections with leading global and regional sales channels for seamless connectivity. Reach out to us for your connectivity needs to make the most of your online revenue- https://goo.gl/3gKUJZ